Paraffin scraping and oil saving device



V/ll l /l/ar IIWIIII P. O. WEBB PARAFFIN SCRAPING AND OIL SAVING DEVICEFiled June 22, 1939 Dec. 2, 1941.

3 mm Q, EBB.

PHILIP Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PABAFFINSCRAPING AND 01L SAVING DEVICE Philip 0. Webb, Ada, Okla, assignor, bydirect and mesne assignments, to Glenn E. Breeding,

Oklahoma City, Okla.

This invention relates to new and useful im-. provements in paraflinscraping and oil saving devices.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for scrapingparafiin and oil from pump or sucker rods as the same are withdrawn froma well tubing, whereby the rods are cleansed, the oil is saved, andsoiling of the derrick floor is prevented.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved paraflinscraping and oil saving device having resilient means for frictionallyengaging the sucker rods, whereby parafiin and oil are removedtherefrom; the resilient means in which an example of the invention isshown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a 'parafiin scraping and oil saving device,constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a view, partly inelevation and partly in section, taken onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a similar view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an isometrical view, showing one of the resilient plungersbeing retracted and fastened in an inoperative position,

being spring-pressed so as to be urged into and held in constantengagement with said rods.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device, of thecharacter described, wherein a plurality of scraping elements aredisposed so as to have their inner ends abut each other and the suckerrods in surrounding relation, the elements being so arranged as topermit lateral or transverse movement of said rods while the same arebeing withdrawn without disturbing the engagement of said elements withthe rods.

An important object of the invention is to provide ,an oil saver andparaflin scraper having improved scraping elements which, due to theirresiliency and particular arrangement, readily permit the passage oftool joints therethrough; there being means provided for retracting andholding the elements in an inoperative position, whereby objects ofrelatively large diameter may be raised or lowered past the inner endsof said elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device, ofthe character described, wherein the inner end of each scraping elementis formed with a plurality of bearing faces, whereby when one surfacebecomes worn and unfit for further use the element may be rotated so asto present another surface to the sucker rods; the device also havingimproved resilient means for absorbing a part of the impact or thrust ofthe upwardly moving rods and for maintaining the elements in theirproper position.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing,

Figure 5 is an inverted isometrical view of the resilient reinforcingmember, and

Figure 6 is an isometrical view of one of the plungers and its guiderod.

' In the drawing, the numeral I0 designates an upright cylindricalhousing or casing having a reduced lower end or shank II which isadapted to be connected to the upper end of a well tubing l2 by asuitable coupling collar l3. Thus, the housing I0 is supported by thetubing l2 and has its bore l4 communicating with the bore of saidtubing. A plurality of radial sleeves or ex-. tensions iii are madeintegral with the central portion of the housing and project outwardlyand upwardly therefrom at an angle to the vertical. The inclination ofthis angle has been shown as substantially 45 degrees; however, it isobvious that an angle of lesser or greater inclination might beemployed. The sleeves I5 are tubular and each sleeve has its outer endexternally screw-threaded so as to receive an internally screw-threadedclosure member or cap l6, while the inner end of each sleevecommunicates with the housing bore M.

An annular retaining plate or flange l1, having a plurality of dependingstud bolts l8 made integral therewith, is mounted on the upper end ofthe housing I0 and is connected thereto by having its bolts fastened bysuitable nuts l9 to angular brackets 20 which are welded or otherwisesecured to the external surface of said housing, as is clearly shown inFigure 2. The plate I1 is of greater diameter than the housing so as tooverlie and protect the sleeves l5, said plate also serving as a supportfor the slips of the usual breakout wrench (not shown). A small, annularlip or flange 2|, having an external diameter of lesser size than thediameter of the bore ll of the housing, depends axially from the plateI! and is adapted to engage within the upper end of said bore as shownin Figure 3. It is pointed out that the central opening of the plate isin axial alinement with the housing bore and that the pump or sucker rodA, which is disposed within the tubing I2, extends therethrough as wellas through said housing.

Each sleeve I5 is arranged to receive a cylindrical piston 22 of firmrubber, or other suitable resilient material, which has a diametersubstantially equal to the bore of said sleeve, whereby the piston has asnug sliding fit therein. A piston rod or stem 23 is axially disposedwithin each sleeve and has its outer end. extending through an axialopening formed in the cap l6. An enlarged circular head 24 is formed onthe inner end of the stem which is embedded or molded within theresilient piston 22 as shown in Figure 3, whereby said stem and pistonare connected together to form a plunger 25. For

holding the inner end of each plunger in en agement with the sucker rodA, a coiled or helical spring 26 is confined within each sleeve l5between its cap l6 and an annular disk or plate 21 which is carried bythe stem 23 and which abuts the outer or upper end of the piston 22.Obviously, the spring 26, being under compression, constantly exerts itspressure to urge the plunger into the bore l4 of the sleeve and intoengagement with the sucker rod, which pressure may be readily varied byadjusting the cap IS.

The inner ends of the plungers are adapted to abut each other as well asto engage the rod A, as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. Foraccomplishing this joint engagement, the inner end of each piston 22 isprovided with a plurality of inclined, radially-disposed faces 28 whichtaper or extend inwardly toward the free or inner end of said piston asshown in Figure 6. An axial, semi-circular recess 29 is formed in theextremity of the piston so as to bisect and delete the apices of thefaces 28, whereby the inner end of said piston has a contour whichsimulates a pyramidal frustrum. A pair of diametrically opposed,inclined grooves or channels 30, being substantially semi-circular incross-section, are also provided in the inner end of each piston betweenthe faces 28 in a plane having the same inclination as the planes ofsaid faces.

When the plungers 25 are positioned within their respective sleeves withthe springs 26 urging them inwardly, the adjacent faces 28' of thepistons 22 will abut each other, while the grooves 30 will engage andsurround the sucker rod A as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Due to theinclination of the sleeves and the plungers, only the uppermost faceswill abut each other and only the uppermost grooves will engage the rodA. Of course, the lowermost faces and grooves will be spaced from eachother, as is clearly shown in Figure 3. It is pointed out that the axialrecesses 29 permit the pistons to engage each other and the sucker rod.It is also pointed out that when the uppermost faces and grooves becomeworn or otherwise unfit for further use, the plungers may be rotated 180degrees so that the lowermost faces and grooves may be put into use.

A short, cylindrical collar or sleeve 3|, having an external diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of the housing bore I4, is disposedwithin the upper end of said bore between the depending boss or lip 2|of the plate H and the pistons 22 of the plungers 25 as shown in Figure3. Although the collar 3| may be constructed of any suitable resilientmaterial, it is preferable to form the same of rubber, whereby saidcollar will absorb a part of the impact or thrust exerted upon theplungers by the withdrawal of the sucker rods from the tubing. The lowerend of the resilient collar is provided with a plurality of spacedarcuate recesses 32 (Figure 5) which have their walls bevelled orinclined inwardly and downwardly at the same inclination as the pistons,whereby the contour of the recesses conform to or complement the uppersurfaces of said pistons. It is noted that the depending ears orportions of the collar, which space apart the recesses 32, have theirextremities bevelled off as shown at 33 so that they will not interferewith the pistons in their lateral movement.

A short pipe 34 is welded or otherwise secured to the external surfaceof the housing l0 immediately above its reduced lower end II andcommunicates with the bore [4 of said housin through a discharge port oropening 35. The pipe is inclined downwardly and may be connected to asuitable conductor (not shown) for discharging and conveying away aportion of the paraffin and oil scraped from the sucker rod A by thegrooves 30 of the pistons 22.

In order to facilitate the installation of the device, the outerextremity of the stem 23 of each plunger 25 is formed with an annulargroove or recess 36 which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool31, whereby said plunger may be retracted or pulled outwardly as shownin Figure 4. A pair of spaced diametrically extending openings 38 areformed in the intermediate portion of each stem 23 and one or either ofthe openings is arranged to receive a pin 39 so as to hold each plungerin its retracted or inoperative position and prevent inward movementthereof. A pin 39 is connected to the cap I6 of each sleeve l5 by achain 40 and bracket 4| and, normally, when not in use, dependstherefrom, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. Of course, the innermostopenings 33 of the stems 23 are provided for the purpose of maintainingthe plungers 25 fully retracted, while the outer openings co-act withthe pins 39 to maintain said plungers in a partially retracted position.It is noted that the particular opening engaged by the pin depends uponthe clearance or space required in the bore l4 of the housing.

In operation, the hereinbefore described paraffin scraper and oil saverwith its plungers fully retracted, is mounted on the uper end of atubing string from which the sucker rods are to be removed or it mayhave the reduced shank H of its housing screw-threaded into a polish rodstuffing box (not shown) after the packing gland has been removed. Whenthe uppermost sucker rod has been withdrawn past or even with the lowerends of the plungers 25, the pins 39 are removed from the outer openings38 of the stems 23 so as to permit the springs 26 to move said plungersinwardly into rod-engaging position. In this position, the upper grooves30 of the pistons 22 will surround a portion of the sucker rod and theupper inclined faces 28 of said pistons will engage each other, as isclearly shown in Figure 1. As the rods are drawn upwardly, paraffin andoil will be scraped or removed from the external surface of said rods bythe grooves 30. When a joint is encountered, the plungers will moveupwardly and outwardly against the pressure of the helical springs whichwill return said plungers to their original position after the joint haspassed by. Although the passage of a joint will slightly distort thepistons vertically, undue distortion of said pistons is prevented by theresilient collar II which is held in position depending lip 2| of theplate l'l.

It is noted that the sucker rods may be withdrawn at an angle to thevertical axis of the housing and that said rods may whip r swing backand forth within said housing so as to move the plungers outwardlywithin their sleeves. A portion of the impact or thrust exerted upon theplungers by the rods is absorbed by the collar 3| which also tends tomaintain the pistons of said plungers in their operable position. It isalso noted that due to the abutting faces 28 of the pistons, the sametend to reinforce or brace each other and prevent displacement ordistortion thereof. As has been hereinbefore set forth, the flat uppersurface of the annular plate l'l serves as a convenient support for thetools (not shown) which prevent the string of sucker rods from roby thetating when a section is being disconnected. It

is further noted that the plungers may be withdrawn and held in theirpartially retracted position so as to permit the passage of the usualrod protectors (not shown) and then returned to their normal position.Also, in the event sucker rods of a greater diameter than theconventional rods are being removed, it is possible to use this devicewith the plungers in their partially retracted position withoutimpairing the efliciency of their operation.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A paraflin scraping and oil saving device for a longitudinallymovable well rod including, a housing, elastic means yieldably mountedin the housing for engaging and surrounding the rod, and elastic meansentirely within the housing immediately above the first-named elasticmeans and cooperating therewith for maintaining the first-named elasticmeans in position and preventing undue distortion of the same upon alongitudinal movement of the rod in the direction of said last namedelastic means.

2. A paraflin scraping and oil saving device for a well rod including, ahousing, inclined resilient means within the housing for engaging andsurrounding the rod, yieldable means within said housing for urging theinclined means into engagement with said rod, and resilient means in thehousing above said inclined means for yieldably maintaining the same inposition and for preventing undue distortion of the same.

3. A paraflin scraping and oil saving device including, a housing havinga bore through which a longitudinal element extends, a plurality ofangularly disposed pistons having their inner ends extending into thebore of the housing and adapted to engage around the element and free tomove in all directions, and resilient means within said housing foryieldably holding said pistons in yieldable engagement with saidelement, whereby as the element is pulled through the housing, saidpistons strip extraneous matter from the surface of said element, theinner ends of the pistons also abutting each other so as to tend toreinforce and aline each other around the element.

4. A paraflin scraping and oil saving device including, a housing havinga bore through which a longitudinal element extends, a plurality ofpulled through the housing, said pistons strip extraneous matter fromthe surface of said element.

5. A paraflln scraping and oil saving device including, a housingthrough which a longitudinal element extends, a plurality ofradially-disposed cylinders having their inner ends communicating withthe interior of the housing, a resilient member movably mounted withineach cylinder, the members having their inner ends adapted'to' engagearound the element, resilient means for yieldably holding said membersin engagement with said element, whereby as the element is pulledthrough the'housing, said members strip extraneous matter from thesurface of said element, and resilient means within said housing abovesaid members for maintaining the members in position and for preventingundue distortion of the same.

6. A paraflin scraping and oil saving device including, a housingthrough which a longitudinal element extends, a plurality ofradially-disposed members having their inner ends adapted to engagearound the element, means for yieldably holding said members inengagement with said element, whereby as the element is pulled throughthe housing, said members strip extraneous matter from the surface ofsaid element, the members being automatically retractible in order toby-pass couplings, and a resilient tubular sleeve disposed within thehousing above the members so as to engage the upper surfaces thereof formaintaining said members in their proper position and for absorbing apart of the upward thrust of the longitudinal element.

7. A paraflin scraping. and oil saving device for a longitudinallymovable well rod including, a housing having a bore through which therod extends, a plurality of angularly disposed elastic pistons in thehousing having their inner ends extending into the bore of the housingand adapted to engage around said rod, said pistons having their innerends free to move vertically and laterally and provided with taperedsurfaces for abutting each other, whereby said pistons reinforce andaline each other around the rod, the inner ends of the piston havinginclined grooves for engaging said rod, and co-acting to completelysurround the rod and strip extraneous matter from the surface thereof,the pistons being yieldably mounted in the housing and inclined forreadily accommodating transverse movement of said rod and the passage ofenlarged portions therethrough.

8. As a sub-combination claim in a paraflin scraping and oil savingdevice for elongate well elements, a cylindrical elastic piston havingone end reduced, said end being provided with flattened angularlyrelated faces and grooves disposed so that after a face and groovebecome worn the piston may be turned to bring an unworn face and grooveinto operative position.

9. A paraflin scraping and oil saving device including, a housingthrough which a longitudinal element extends, a plurality of inclinedresilient members radially-disposed within the housing having theirinner ends adapted to yieldably engage around the element, whereby themembers strip extraneous matter from the surface of said ing havingtheir inner ends adapted to yieldabiy engage around the element, wherebythe members strip extraneous matter from the surface of said elementwhen the latter is pulled through said housing, and a resilientcylindrical sleeve disposed within the housing above said members, thesleeve having recesses formed in its lower end for receiving the upperportions of the members for maintaining the same in their properposition and for absorbing a part of the upward thrust of thelongitudinal element.

11. A piston for an oil saver and paraflfin scraper, said pistoncomprising a cylindrical body having one end elastic and provided with acentral recess and tapered faces radiating from said recess, a pair ofthe opposite races being provided each with a groove extending from saidrecess, whereby said piston may be disposed with one of its grooves inworking engagement with a well element and the other groove out of suchengagement, so that when the engaged groove becomes worn the piston maybe turned to present the other groove to the well element.

PHILIU? O. WEBB.

